Food costs UP, tourism DOWN

Thai Rice Price Rise to 9 month high  Bloomberg

Worst flooding in almost 50 years in Thailand, I suspect prices of many agriculture products will rise
Flooding to continue in the south The Nation

Tourism Down
10 percent, 20 percent... do we have any higher bids??

Tourism to see drop of 10-15   The Nation
High Season Tourist Arrivals Disappointing   Thai-ASEAN News

Much of the media blames the political unrest earlier this year.
Doubt it had a great effect. There have been such unrest's before. As soon as calm was restored tourists returned.

Worst flooding in decades is also blamed.
Again I doubt that it has significant impact. I visited Ayutthaya after flooding in the 90's. The bus stopped on the road and we paid 20 baht to be ferried to the temple.

 

To take a river trip in Bangkok we walked on planks laid atop submerged restaurant tables to get to the boat ramp.

The real culprit causing such a drastic downturn in tourism is MONEY.
World finances are in disaster and the Thai Baht is too strong.
That's just my opinion.

That's what I call INTENSE political opinion

Parade... Parade.. Parade

Can I borrow your Beamer?

A tenant from the apartment house across the street is moving 100 yards away to a different apartment.
He came to ask me to borrow my Beamer. 
I was somewhat puzzled, since I don't own a BMW.
He pointed...  It was time for a short English lesson:  "Wheelbarrow" 

 

Televised this evening

Football Thailand vs Lao, starts at 5 PM

Saturday Dec 4
Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair

Starts at sunset, downtown

Sunday, Dec 5 
Parade

Celebrating the birthday of HRH the King, starts at 4 PM

Friday, Dec 10 

Constitution day

Saturday, Dec 11
Dragon Festival 

December 11.  Parade departs the temple at 6 AM.  Don't miss the main show at about mid morning, and evening celebration at the temple.  If you visit the temple the night before you can see practices and makeup application

A number of local schools  have Sports day early in the month.  These include parades and entertainment 

The silly side of U.S. Airport security

 
Your airport screening x-rays may soon be available on Pin-Up Calendars

Loudoun County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors member Eugene Delgaudio claims TSA airport pat downs are part of the homosexual agenda. wusa9



A lesson in Bird Photography

by Photographer: Andrey Goncharov found at pixdaus

Alvin, known to others as Steak Isaan

You did say you want this bookcase demolished?

mhm good!! Imported plywood

Manicure??

I really do prefer trees

Another Dining Option

Blew my cool

I'd been adjusting to doing it the Thai way.  Generally they try to avoid confrontation.
Heated arguments are almost an anomaly.  Years ago my candy dish was emptied by some visiting students.
I accused them of being thieves.
I was informed that I was in the wrong.  Anything left on the table is considered community property.
The most obvious example of this practice is mealtime. Food is placed on the table for everyone in the household and visitors.  Asking to partake is not required.

In one of my classes a group of students ignored the class and began chatting amongst each other.  Their conversation was quite loud and disruptive.  I was surprised that the Thai teacher did not intervene.  She simply ignored the group.  When she started explaining what I had just said, I could not hear her.

I stood in front of the disruptive students and told them to be quiet: "If you wish to continue your private conversation, please leave the room and go to the cafeteria."  It took me a moment to regain my composure.  The students didn't leave, but they were quiet and surprisingly very attentive after that.
One of the students said "thank you."  I accepted that as an apology of sorts

Another restaurant opening today

I've been told that half of the Thais are doing the cooking, while the other half decides where to eat next.
It may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there is some truth to it.  Anywhere in this town there is a restaurant just minutes away.

The new restaurant is named อิ่ม สบาย Pronounced Imm Sabai.  Imm meaning full or gratified (I can't eat another bite).  Sabai comfortable / happy.

The restaurant hopes to attract local football (soccer) fans and is next door to a store selling football paraphernalia.  The restaurant is on the next street east of the MJ Majestic hotel and features draft beer, seafood, steak Lao (spicy), amongst other menu items.

   

Monday Holiday

Just a reminder that Monday is a holiday.  Banks and many businesses will be closed.
In Thailand, when a holiday falls on a weekend, a day before or after is declared a substitution day.
And of course I don't need to remind you that December 5 is HRH the King's Birthday, also designated as Fathers day in Thailand.

The Vikings are coming

Sakon Nakhon will experience a Viking invasion of sorts on Dec 5th.
These Vikings aren't the menacing type, they are a Bangkok based bicycle group on their annual bike ride.
Read more at ScandAsia


Satellite Forum is back

People considering alternate TV resources should visit the Satellite Forum for further information.


Another Thai feel good story

Don't miss this item at the Pattaya Daily




Watch this without smiling, I couldn't

If laughter is the best medicine, then Leslie Nielsen was the pharmacists

Eight years and I still don't know her real name

Family Dinner Party

She's the head of the household and everyone simply calls her "Mama."
It was her birthday yesterday, a time to celebrate with a family dinner.
Plenty of kin attended. I stopped counting after 25. They don't sit still long enough for that. As some left, more arrived.
I guess, being the oldest, I was honored to sit at the head of the table.
A bottle of my favorite Thai rum was placed in front of me.

Did make a slight mistake of mentioning that I really enjoyed the jumbo shrimp.  After that I had more than I could handle.

Jet Lag

We've all experienced it after a long flight.  Takes a while to adjust to the local time zone.
Latest research explains it even more:  Jet Lag May Cause Stupidity.
The findings are authentic. They tested hamsters to come to their conclusion.

You're gonna have to pay royalties for the word 'face'

The word is about to become a trademark

How many times has this happened, 
think they lost count

Weird Science

Even though I had little interest in a Thanksgiving turkey, I had this  inexhaustible desire for pumpkin pie with ice cream. As an alternative I considered pumpkin soup.  I couldn't explain why I had such a strong desire for it.

Now I know:
Pumpkin: Natures Viagra
Read the article and watch the video at WPBF

And there is another valuable research finding

Coffee and glucose can improve brain efficiency

  Read the article at Science Daily

For every action, there's a RE-action

You ain't seen nothing yet. 
It's going to get much colder in Britain
.

Where's my party hat?

Fireworks at recent Loy Krathong festival

video by suntawan

No Turkey dinner at my house today

Guess I have adjusted  to the Thai traditions. 
Instead I attend two birthday dinners this week.

Christmas Star parade

I received my invitation for the Tha Rae Christmas Star parade.  That parade is Dec 24.  The Parade in Muang Sakon is on Dec 25.
One year I was actually in the lead vehicle of the Christmas parade here in town.

Heard it through the grapevine (Rumor)

The school near Macro is having a Christmas party, concert, etc.  Table for eight Bt 1,600.
As of yet I haven't heard of any New Years celebrations at the Welcome, Escape, or Branch bars and restaurants.  But it's still early.

Yearly Income statement for Visa renewal

There's been quite a discussion on the web regarding embassy certified income statements, in lieu of having the cash in the bank, for visa renewal.  Some folks, me included, renewed their visa earlier this year and were told they could use the statement the following year.  The date of the certified statement should be within the year you are renewing your Visa.

If you're one of those people who plans to re-use last years statement, suggest you visit the Immigration office before renewal time.  You might get by this year, but next year get a new statement.

Commerce Ministry Deals with Sugar Shortage

Worst in 17 years

Local weather

"More of the same" Daytime temperature near 30, night-time mid teens Celcius

Been there... Done that

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